'Definitely not ruling out': Cory Booker keeps 2028 hopes alive, torches own party as 'failed'

WASHINGTON, DC: Democratic Senator Cory Booker said he is “definitely not ruling out” a potential run for the White House in 2028, even as he emphasized that his immediate priority is securing another term in the US Senate.

“I hope New Jersey will support me for another six years,” Booker said in an interview on NBC’s 'Meet the Press' on Sunday, March 29, signaling his focus on re-election this year while keeping future ambitions in play.

Cory Booker suggests a second shot at the presidency

Booker is no stranger to presidential politics. He previously ran in the 2020 Democratic primary but exited the race early in January, citing financial constraints. The nomination was eventually won by Joe Biden, who went on to secure the presidency.

In recent years, however, Booker has revived speculation about another bid. He reiterated in February, during a podcast with former Democratic National Committee chair Jaime Harrison, that he had “not dismissed” the idea of running again in 2028.

Senator Cory Booker and Alexis Lewis attend the 2025 New Jersey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at American Dream on November 21, 2025, in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Bobby Bank/Getty Images)

Fundraising boost and national visibility

Fueling the speculation is Booker’s growing political war chest and heightened national profile. The senator has raised approximately $10 million through his campaign account and a joint fundraising committee.

A significant portion of that surge came after Booker delivered a marathon speech on the Senate floor lasting 25 hours and 5 minutes, one of the longest in modern congressional history, drawing widespread attention and energizing supporters.

He has also stepped up his national outreach with the release of his new book 'Stand', which he is promoting through a nationwide tour, another move often associated with potential presidential hopefuls.

Booker, who married Alexis Lewis last year, acknowledged that any future presidential run would be a shared decision shaped by both personal and national considerations.

“I think what she’s supportive of now is… we’re excited about being married and hopeful for a family, but she knows what’s at stake,” he said.

He added that both of them are committed to contributing to what he described as a broader generational effort to “redeem the dream” of the country.

Calls for a reset within the Democratic Party

Beyond his personal political future, Booker used the interview to deliver a pointed critique of his own party, arguing that Democrats need to move away from rigid ideological litmus tests.

“I’m proud of so many things my Democratic colleagues are doing, but as a whole, our party has failed this moment,” he said.

Booker suggested that internal divisions and strict ideological expectations have weakened the party’s ability to connect with a broader electorate, a concern that has grown since the 2020 election cycle.

Some Democrats have argued that such “purity tests” hurt candidates, including Kamala Harris, whose presidential campaign later faced criticism over positions that became political flashpoints.

Booker also struck a broader note of concern about political polarization, warning that the deepening divide between left and right is a critical national challenge.

“This left-right divide is killing our country, and our adversaries know it,” he said, pointing to the role of misinformation and foreign influence in amplifying tensions.

He called for a new, more inclusive national vision that prioritizes unity over division, urging political leaders to move beyond partisan battles.

Cory Booker says he is looking beyond Trump-era politics

In a notable shift in tone, Booker cautioned Democrats against centering their political strategy solely around opposition to Donald Trump.

“The challenges on the horizon aren’t just this current crisis that Trump has caused. He shouldn’t be the main character of our narrative,” Booker said.

Instead, he urged the party to focus on emerging issues such as artificial intelligence, robotics and broader societal changes that will shape the country’s future.